Soccer
No away fans permitted for Old Firm SPFL matches this season
Celtic and Rangers fans will not be present in each other’s grounds for the rest of the season.
The absence of away allocations has been announced by the SPFL after Celtic challenged Rangers’ decision to give them 300 tickets for the Premier Sports Cup tie at Ibrox on September 13.
Rangers cut the allocation from the recently-agreed total of about 2,500 seats in response to trouble that marred the Scottish Cup quarter-final clash between the Glasgow rivals in March, when Celtic were given the traditional allocation of about 8,000 under competition rules.
An SPFL statement read: “Following the events of March 8 and the publication of the Independent Review, the arrangements for the forthcoming fixtures were reconsidered.
“For the Premier Sports Cup tie at Ibrox, Rangers proposed a reduced away allocation based on its assessment of the circumstances and risks associated with that fixture. Celtic did not accept that proposal and sought a determination from the SPFL.
“After further discussions involving both clubs and the SPFL, agreement has been reached that there will be no away supporters for matches involving Rangers and Celtic in SPFL competitions for the remainder of the 2026/27 season.
“This temporary arrangement will allow both clubs, together with the SPFL, Police Scotland and other relevant stakeholders, to give proper consideration to the findings and recommendations of the Independent Review, take forward the necessary actions and ensure sufficient time is available to plan future fixtures thoroughly.
“All parties have committed to working constructively during this period, with safety and security remaining the priority.”
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill was not surprised.
“I think that was inevitable, really, when Rangers were offering 300 tickets, and we refused that,” he said.
“Really sad, I must admit, just from a normal punter’s viewpoint. It’s a great, great fixture when the ground is absolutely full. And I think the away fans make this.
“Hopefully the two clubs will maybe get together at some stage or another and try to iron out the particular problems.
“It’s not to say that we haven’t had a few problems in the past, but they seem to have escalated over the last number of seasons, which is a problem.”
Rangers manager Derek McInnes admitted the development was “disappointing”.
He added: “Without commenting too much, because I don’t know the club’s position on it and I think it’s more appropriate that the club speaks on it, it’s always better when opposition fans are allowed into a derby game. But there have still got to be behaviours met.”
An independent review commissioned by the Scottish Football Association claimed that “life-threatening” violence was narrowly avoided when Rangers fans confronted celebrating Celtic supporters on the Ibrox pitch in March. Dozens of people were arrested.
The traditional away allocations ended in 2018, when Rangers cut Celtic’s ticket share to about 800, with their rivals inevitably following suit. There was a complete absence of away fans for a spell before the five per cent arrangement was introduced last season.
